Michelle Baum
Administrator
Jennifer Herron
Founder & CEO
Jennifer Herron is the CEO of Action Engineering, a registered Women-Owned Small Business specializing in guiding organizations through their transformation into a Model-Based Enterprise (MBE) using Model-Based Definition (MBD). She serves on the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC) Board of Directors, which maintains the QIF and DMIS standards. Ms. Herron has extensive experience with the hardware design for spaceflight and military systems, and as such, is an expert in multiple CAD packages (e.g., Creo, NX, SOLIDWORKS, Inventor). She holds a patent for a snake propulsion mechanism and is the author of Re-Use Your CAD: The Model-Based CAD Handbook. Because standards are the lynchpin to a digital transformation, she also serves on the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) to write standards that empower all industries to do business differently.
Expertise
- MBD and MBE Solution Architecture
- MBD Pilot Planning
- MBD Modeling Standards and Best Practices
- Multi-CAD MBD Authoring and Publishing
- Multi-CAD MBD and GD&T Coaching
- Strategic MBD and MBE Implementation Coaching
- MBD Supply Chain Readiness Coaching
Credentials
- Board Member, Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC)
- Certified Scrum Product Owner®
- Co-Chair, MBE ASME Committee
- Engineer in Training (EIT), Missouri
- Certified SolidWorks Associate
- Patent for Toroidal Propulsion and Steering System (Snake)
If you are going to CHANGE the results of your business, you have to change the WAY you do business.”
Jennifer Herron
Rhiannon Gallagher
Chief Social Scientist
Rhiannon heads the team of social scientists that focuses on the people of the MBE transformation. Our social scientists conduct the analysis, create the plans, and design the communication strategies that help people make the transition to a model-based enterprise. Culture does eat strategy for breakfast, but strategy that includes culture wins the day. Bringing the insights of sociology, psychology, and other social sciences into our MBE coaching is one of the unique ways Action assists customers. Rhiannon began her career in technology, designing online community systems in the early days of the web. After teaching and designing courses on a variety of technical topics, she focused her career on improving the usability of computer applications and websites for industries from medicine to mining. Rhiannon is excited to expand the integration of social science within the MBE implementation coaching services delivered by Action Engineering. She has a BA in Geography and English from Macalester College, a Fulbright Scholarship to University College London, and has done graduate work in Human Factors Engineering.
Expertise
- MBE Assessment and Road-Mapping
- User Experience
- Digital Readiness Assessments
- Executive Communication Strategies
- Organizational Communication Plans
- MBD Consumer Training Plans
- Persona-Based Culture Change Strategies
- Sociology and Psychology Insights for MBD Transformation
- Agile MBD Workshop Facilitator
Credentials
- Graduate work in Human Factors Engineering
- Leading for Creativity certificate, IDEOU
We spend a lot of time designing the bridge, but not enough time thinking about the people who are crossing it.”
Dr. Prabhjot Singh
Let’s build a better bridge to the Model-Based Enterprise.”
Rhiannon Gallagher
Dan Feighery
Model-Based Definition Trainer
Dan Feighery is an MBD Trainer with Action Engineering. He develops and teaches courses on Geometric Tolerancing for MBD and coaching teams to achieve a Model-Based Enterprise. His career began as a tooling engineer for a Fortune 500 company’s aerospace group where he was exposed to design for manufacturability/assembly and quality control. Prior to coming to Action Engineering, he worked for an emerging leader in impact mitigation and cushioning solutions and served as a change agent and champion of business process improvements. Dan holds a B.S. in Engineering Management from Missouri University of Science & Technology with a Management of Technology emphasis. Growing up in a bilingual home, Dan speaks Brazilian Portuguese. When not working, he can be found climbing and volunteering as an instructor with the Colorado Mountain Club.
Expertise
- Multi-CAD MBD and GD&T Training and Coaching (Lead Trainer)
- MBD Modeling Standards and Best Practices
- Multi-CAD MBD Authoring and Publishing
- 3D CAD, MBD, CAD Interoperability Software Configuration and Assessment
- Product Development, Quality, and Manufacturing Planning & Implementation
- Tooling Design Guidelines
- Roadmap Development
Credentials
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) MBE Terms Working Group
- American Society of Quality (ASQ) Certified Quality Inspector
The only good reason to climb is to improve yourself.”
Yvon Chouinard
Ryan Gelotte
CTO
Ryan Gelotte is the Chief Technology Officer of Action Engineering. He is certified as an ASME Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Professional (GDTP) at the 2009 Senior Level. He holds degrees in Plastics Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology from Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. His career over the years has included a focus on all aspects of plastic part design and manufacturing, including mold design, as well as expertise of PTC’s various CAD and PLM systems. In fact, Ryan started his career as an Applications Engineer for PTC from 1998-1999 and, over the years, has provided training, support, and consulting services with PTC’s products for several companies. His experience in engineering systems, product design, and manufacturing have been instrumental in preparing him for the many challenges that come with implementing a Model-Based Enterprise. He enjoys the many challenges inherent to the engineering discipline and thrives off of finding new and better ways to accomplish superior results both in engineering and manufacturing operations by defining Model-Based processes.
Expertise
- MBE Solutions Architect
- MBD Proofs of Concept
- MBD Pilot Planning
- PMI and GD&T Annotations
- MBD and GD&T Training Courses
- MBD Modeling Standards and Best Practices
- 3D CAD and MBD Interoperability Software Applications
- Software Tool Assessments
- PLM and PDM Administration
- All Things CAD/CAM/CAE/CAI/CAx
Credentials
- PTC/USER® MBE Technical Committee Chair
- ASME Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Professional (GDTP), 2009 Senior Level Certification
- Pro/Engineer Certified Professional Provider
- Member of MBE ASME Committee
- Member of Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE)
Don’t find fault, find a remedy.”
Henry Ford
If MBD/MBE was easy, everyone would be doing it. It requires a collaborative effort inclusive of everyone willing to make change, some which can be quite difficult. It can also be a lot of fun!”
Ryan Gelotte
Michelle Nordwald
COO
Michelle Nordwald is the Chief Operating Officer of Action Engineering. She is a registered professional engineer with technical and consulting expertise focused on project management/coordination, technical and economic analyses, and stakeholder collaboration. Ms. Nordwald is responsible for maintaining business systems, managing client relations, and enhancing Action Engineering’s advancement of Model-Based Definition and Model-Based Engineering across the aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, and other product development industries.
Expertise
- Business Operations
- Customer Communications
- Project Management
- Regulatory Permitting & Compliance
- Data Analysis
Credentials
- Professional Engineer, Colorado
We should surround ourselves with people who are better, faster, and smarter. Respectful collaboration and diversity of thought will strengthen our teams and drive our visions forward.”
Michelle Nordwald
Duane Hess
CIO
Duane Hess is the Chief Information Officer of Action Engineering. Duane specializes in CAD to PDM to PLM to ERP integration and on-line and on-site training program development. He is an intellectually curious problem solver with over 15 years of hands-on experience in space planning and knowledge of manufacturing, material handling, logistics, project management, and software development. Duane has successfully designed mechanisms, material handling systems, and packaging equipment. He has a diverse background of practical knowledge and experiences including a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management and an Associate Degree in Drafting. Duane’s PDM and CAD administration approach is influenced by his practical understanding of workflow management, permissions, and documentation support. Pragmatic and systematic troubleshooting enables him to identify areas of improvement and champion PDM system stability.
Expertise
- Organizational Change Strategy
- Training Strategies
- Customized Training Content
- Process Improvement
- MBE Mentoring
- PDM Administration
- Mechanical Design
- Manufacturing, Office, and Warehouse Planning
Credentials
- Certified ScrumMaster®
- eCornell Change Leadership Certificate
- eCornell Change Management Certificate
Collaboration is the most powerful of concepts if one has the trust to harness it. It takes diverse experiences, unique perspectives, and inarticulable intuition, and forges them into something beyond any individual’s capabilities. It is the process of collaboration that fascinates me – the topic is irrelevant.”
Duane Hess
Kate Hubbard
CMO
Kate Hubbard is the Chief Marketing Officer of Action Engineering. As a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), she guides the adoption of MBE with an agile mindset. Her focus is continually improving Action Engineering offerings to deliver the highest possible value. Kate began her career with Rolls-Royce Corporation’s engineering leadership development program, where she completed rotations in Electrical Power & Control Systems, Design Engineering, Performance Engineering, and Engineering for Services. She then joined Gates Corporation as an R&D process engineer with the New Technology & Innovation team, where she focused on automated inspection, quality management, and design for manufacturing. She holds B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Expertise
- Continuous Improvement
- Customer Communications
- Agile Coach & Facilitator
- Marketing & Social Media
- Project Management
- Business Operations
- 3D Collaboration & Interoperability Congress
Credentials
- Certified ScrumMaster®
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- Design for Six Sigma
- Patent for Combustor with Spring-Loaded Crossover Tubes
- Engineer in Training (EIT), Indiana
You can’t fail at improving. You’ll either succeed by getting better, or you’ll succeed by learning something new.”
Kate Hubbard
